WTD 61, the German Armed Force’s dedicated flight test and evaluation unit at Manching Air Base, flew its commemorative F-4F Phantom today. Zaid Meherali caught it at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands and sent us these pictures.
© Zaid Meherali – www.globalaviationresource.com
The F-4F has been painted ahead of the Phantom’s retirement this weekend, an occasion which will be marked at Wittmund Air Base, home to Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71) “Richthofen”, the last squadron to operate the F-4F with the Luftwaffe.
Marked with the words, “Don’t let me die, I want to fly!”, F-4F 38+13 will take its place alongside the Phantoms already specially painted for the aircraft’s final weeks in service.
© Zaid Meherali – www.globalaviationresource.com
Later this evening GAR will be bringing you a major feature as we travel on-board ‘Quid 22’ with the 100th ARW as it refuels German Phantoms for the last time. Not only that, JG 71 pilot Captain Sebastian M.M. Fiedler gives us a pilot’s view of tanking from the F-4F.
GAR would like to thank Zaid Meherali for these images.
Farewell to an Old Trusted, Reliable, Maintainable friend in Germany (F4F-J79)We hope the Euro Fighter can live up to at least half of the capability that the Phantom and J79 offered for many years of faithful service. The skys over Germany will miss the Phantom and valleys will miss the roar as the aviators Zoomed deep between the mountin tops to the enjoyment of the on lookers. We at GE will miss Captain Gerd Hess (GAF) and his ability to start a lively discussion annually at the J79 TIGERS conference in Evendale Ohio USA. Turkey, Greece, Japan and South Korea still plan to fly their Phantoms until 2020 or beyond. I will be attending the last flying event of the Phantoms in which ever country it is that flies the Phantom’s last military mission in 2020 or beyond. I have supported the F4 J79 engine since I was a teenager in a US Air Force uniform, now in my 45th year, the first 22 years were hands on, now a J79 consulting engineer supportting the Worldwide fleet.
Mr. J79 Eng
USAF Ret 89
Great words Mike – thank you for taking the time to send them in.